Hong Kong police arrest man for playing protest song near British consulate as mourners pay respects to Queen Elizabeth
- The 43-year-old was arrested for seditious intent for allegedly playing protest song on harmonica while dozens paid tribute to Britain’s late monarch
- Some mourners allegedly sang ‘Glory to Hong Kong’ and shouted slogans popular during the 2019 protests
Hong Kong police have arrested a 43-year-old man on suspicion of sedition after he allegedly played a song popular during the anti-government protests in 2019 near the city’s British consulate as mourners paid tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth.
The suspect was accused of playing “Glory to Hong Kong” on a harmonica opposite the diplomatic mission in Admiralty on Monday night, according to a law enforcement source. As of Tuesday afternoon, he was still being held for questioning, according to the force.
On Monday evening, dozens of mourners gathered at the consulate to pay their final respects to the queen, with some viewing the funeral together on tablets.
At around 8.15pm, some of them with their mobile phone flashlights illuminated were spotted singing “Glory to Hong Kong” and yelling slogans that were popular during the social unrest.
The slogans included “Hongkongers add oil”, a Cantonese expression of encouragement, and “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times”, both regularly heard during the months of social unrest.
The singing and chanting lasted for a few minutes and stopped before the police arrived.
A black-clad man was seen being intercepted by police for an identity check before being put into a police vehicle and driven away.